Thought chair pose was hard in the studio? Try doing it on the ocean! Paddle board yoga puts a new twist on …

For most people, holding chair pose in the safe confines of a yoga studio is hard enough. But one group of women are pushing the practice’s boundaries even further – teaching poses on paddle boards.

Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga (SUP Yoga), aimed at increasing balance and core strength while connecting students with nature, is putting a new twist on an age old practice.

Gone is the traditional yoga mat and studio, instead, paddle boards and the ocean have taken their place.

Back to nature: Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga (SUP Yoga), aimed at increasing balance and core strength while connecting students with nature, is putting a new twist on an age old practice

Jana Olenio, the woman behind SUP, explained to Boston.com: ‘Being out in nature allows you to connect with the earth.

‘By being out on the board you’re building focus, concentration, more core strength because it’s a lot harder to stay on your board than it is on your mat.’

For those afraid of getting wet, Ms Olenio, who offers Paddle Board Yoga in Swampscott, Massachusetts; as well as Rye Harbor and Seabrook in New Hampshire, said ‘there’s only a 10per cent fall-in rat.’

Balancing act: As the poses became more complex, a student’s balance is tested – especially after a slight ripple or current from a passing boat

Core strength: Jana Olenio, the woman behind SUP, explained that ‘being out on the board you’re building focus, concentration, more core strength – it’s a lot harder to stay on your board than it is on your mat’

One student, Jessica Sexton, explained the alternative yoga’s appeal.

‘A lot of people play sounds of the ocean, or waves lapping at the shore, and we get that here. And boat goes by, it’s beautiful.’

Helena Safran, who had tried SUP for the first time, added: ‘I loved it, I do yoga every day so I loved more of a challenge doing certain poses. And then if you mess up, you fall in the water, and you feel refreshed!’

Keep steady: For those afraid of getting wet, there’s only a 10per cent fall-in rate, but accidents do happen

Quick dip: Helena Safran, who had tried SUP for the
first time, said ‘it’s more of a
challenge doing certain poses. And then if you mess up, you fall in the
water, and you feel refreshed!’

Trying something new: Stand Up Paddle Board Yoga in Swampscott, Massachusetts; as well as Rye Harbor and Seabrook in New Hampshire

Relaxation: Ms Olenio said ‘being out in nature allows you to connect with the earth’ while you practice

But as the poses became more complex, a student’s balance is tested – especially after a slight ripple or current.

‘This is as much an exercise in core as
it is in focus,’ explained Ms Olenio. ‘You’re working every muscle in your body, your bracing
yourself, your core is engaged the entire time so you stay on your board.’